Preparing for Holy Week at the End of Term
The end of term at Christ the King Senior Academy at Christmas and before Easter, is brought to fulfilment as the whole school walks down to the Good Shepherd Church, Thackeray’s Lane, part of the Parish of St. John Paul II (Nottingham) for a final celebration, before the Academy disperses for the holidays. This in itself is a tremendous act of Catholic witness in the local community as the distinctive uniform of the Academy is experienced by the neighbourhood for what is a twenty-minute walk, accompanied by members of staff and Governors.
This pre-Easter walk was no exception and once again the Academy expressed a tremendous vision of the Passion of the Lord, by presenting “Born for this” under the leadership of Tom Baptiste, (Chaplaincy Co-ordinator of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi Academy Trust) and the Academy’s Chaplaincy team.
The presentation was enhanced by skillful use of lighting in the Church to visually
express the solemnity of the moment accompanied by so many students involved, that all present were touched by the message of the Passion that you could hear a pin drop. Parents and parishioners swelled the numbers such that even the extra chairs brought in from the Parish Assembly Rooms were not sufficient for the numbers attending who swelled out into the Church narthex to participate. Many spoke of involvement by the live streaming available that enabled a tremendous audience of our youth expressing their Faith.
“I would have paid £25:00 to watch that” was the comment of one parishioner. Our thanks to the Chaplaincy teams of our Multi Academy Trust, and of St. Oscar Romero Hub, of which Christ the King is the Senior Academy for such a splendid and deeply moving occasion.
St. John Paul II (Nottingham) Parish, Roving Reporter.
Pictures by kind permission of Christ the King Senior Academy.
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Faith and trust
At this Easter’s Sunday service, the congregation repeated their baptismal vows, reaffirming their belief in God and the events and consequences of the resurrection, articulating the nature of their faith and the trust Catholics have in God’s love, care and providence.
It brought to mind the tale of the dying Marist brother as he lay on his hospital deathbed, explaining to his gathered family and friends the story of his spirituality.
It came from a personal experience when he met a circus troupe, The Flying Rodleighs, after one of their performances.
He told them “One day I was sitting with Rodleigh, a trapeze artist, talking about his ‘flying through the air’. He explained “as a flyer I must have complete trust in my catcher. You and the public might think I am the star of this act but the real star is my catcher, Joe. He has to be there for me with split second timing and grab me out of the air from my jumps.”
“How does this work?” I asked.
“Well” Rodleigh said, “the secret is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher everything. When I fly to Joe I have simply to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for him to catch me safely.”
“You do nothing?” I exclaimed.
“Nothing!” Rodleigh repeated. “The worst thing is for the flyer to catch the catcher. I am not supposed to catch Joe. If I grabbed him, I might break his wrists or he break mine and that would be the end of both of us! A flyer has to fly and a catcher has to catch. The flyer has to trust with outstretched arms that his catcher will be there for him.”
When Rodleigh said this with so much conviction the words of Jesus flashed through my mind.
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Frankly Speaking
Dying is trusting the Catcher. Caring for the dying is saying:
“Don’t be afraid. Remember, you are the partner of the son of God. He will be there when you make your jump. Don’t try to grab him. He will grab you. Just stretch out your arms and trust.”
As Vincentians we build any relationship with beneficiaries based on trust. Supporting those in need requires them to reach out and be caught. This trust is based on building their confidence to let down their defences and acknowledge that there is someone who can help, someone who can keep them safe, someone who can help them move on. Building this trust means that barriers have been broken and a bond has developed.
Trust is at the core of what the SVP does. We aim to gain the trust of those we befriend just as we trust in the grace of God to guide us in our mission.
Lance Philpott
which we celebrate the feast of St Joseph the Worker.
Much of this month is also still in the Easter season and in our country the gradual extension of daylight continues. In past years this season of Spring can best be analysed on one of my cards which simply read “Easter is a time of Hope”.
The area of the world which, surrounds the Holy Land, certainly needed more light than darkness over the recent Easter weekend.
The hostile and tragic loss of life seemed accompanied by more threats and even worse. Let us not forget the plight of innocent civilians including children let
On Easter Day Pope Leo gave his message advocating so much towards peace. The Vatican television commentator commented, “well there was no holding back.” This was an address to everybody and not just to world leaders. The Pope clearly felt that dialogue and compassion is the way forward for those world leaders as so many conflicts bring us much suffering and pain. Towards the end of his Easter message he urged us to “Bring the joy of Jesus to all we meet.”
In the Diocese of Nottingham Bishop Patrick launched the Diocesan Mission Plan in January. Under the actual heading of “Mission” we are urged to share ourselves with our varied talents to make Jesus Christ better known in our families and daily lives. Since January there appears
to be a dispute on a poll concerning the 18-24 year olds attending Christian Churches.
There is a no dispute on the increase in numbers coming into the Catholic Church each Easter in recent times. Perhaps its too early to say this is a revival it's our job to speak more openly of our faith.
May is also the month dedicated to Our Lady and some readers will have memories of religious processions which did parade through our towns and communities. These demonstrations of Faith might not be as frequent this May but there is a possible re-awaking with Christian information on the internet. In the meantime we should try to make everyone at ease who is seeking guidance in a changing world.
by Frank Goulding
Writing this article on Easter Monday I note that May 1st is not only the first Friday but also the day on
alone the resident Christians praying during Holy Week.
A night of light: 249 new Catholics welcomed across the Diocese
Nottingham Cathedral was alive with joy over the Easter Weekend
As the Easter Vigil began in darkness, hundreds gathered to witness one of the most sacred moments in the Church's liturgical year and, one of the most historic nights for the Diocese of Nottingham in four decades.
Bishop Patrick received 35 new members into the Catholic Church at Nottingham Cathedral, part of a remarkable 249 people welcomed across the Diocese in 2026 - the highest number in 40 years.
The energy in the Cathedral was palpable: candles flickered in the darkness, voices rose in ancient hymns, and faces, many of them young, shone with anticipation and hope.
Among the 35 received at the Cathedral were faces radiant with joy and hearts overflowing with gratitude. One woman, moments after her Confirmation, was visibly moved to tears: overwhelmed, she said, by the simple truth that God loves her. For her and the others received last night, this wasn’t just a ceremony; it was the
moment when everything changed.
Choosing Christ transforms everything. Easter is not just a celebration it’s the beginning of a new life, and last night, 35 people at the Cathedral stepped into that new life with courage, hope, and profound joy.
Mission Alive
‘I think it's a very real sign that the mission in the diocese is taking effect,’ Bishop Patrick reflected after the Vigil. ‘People from all ages have been baptized and received, it was just a wonderful occasion.’
These 249 new Catholics are a living answer to Christ’s call to ‘go and make disciples.’ Each one represents a story of encounter, invitation, and accompaniment. Someone shared their faith. Someone walked alongside them. Someone prayed. And now, they themselves are sent to do the same.
The Bishop noted that the celebration gave ‘new heart to those who were there, who were already baptised and confirmed. I
think that always happens in parishes that receive people, that baptise them. It just reminds us that the church, our parish, our diocese is growing.’
A Church Renewed
In a culture of declining numbers and practice, last night told a different story. ‘There's a lot of talk about decline,’ Bishop Patrick observed, ‘but we’re seeing quite a number of young people- and people of all ages- coming and wanting to be baptised, wanting to learn more about Catholicism.’
Some, he noted, had been baptised but ‘never took seriously the gift of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.’
What particularly moved the Bishop was the number baptised: ‘Seventeen- that’s a big number. And the joy on their faces... they were just so joyful, so pleased to be baptised, to be confirmed, to be welcomed into the Catholic Church.’ The celebration, he shared, went on until midnight.
The Cathedral was packed. Families, sponsors, friends, and parishioners filled
every corner, their presence a reminder that no one enters the Church alone. We are, as St. Paul reminds us, one body and, last night, that body grew stronger and more vibrant.
The Challenge Ahead
‘Now the challenge,’ Bishop Patrick reflected, ‘is to continue helping them to feel welcome, walking with them in every parish and here at the Cathedral.’
As dawn breaks on Easter Sunday, we celebrate not only the Resurrection of Christ but the resurrection of 249 lives transformed by His love. Their witness challenges and inspires us: if they can say yes to Christ, so can we. If they can take the leap of faith, so can those we know who are searching.
Let us pray for these new Catholics as they begin their journey. Let us thank God for their courage. And let us commit ourselves to walking with them: accompanying, welcoming, and helping them grow in faith. dioceseofnottingham.uk
100 years young
Although not a priest of the diocese of Nottingham, Cistercian priest Fr Justin celebrated his 100th birthday in the 73rd anniversary of his year as being a Trappist monk at Mount St Bernard in rural Leicestershire’s Charnwood Forest and a beautiful example of Gothic Revival style by A.W.N. Pugin.
Dom Joseph on behalf of the whole community in his homily said, “Originally from New Zealand Fr Justin served this monastery in many ways: in the orchard, bursar, teacher (including my teacher) and in guesthouse ministry, where many of you may first have encountered him. In God’s Providence Fr Justin’s 100th birthday has fallen on the feast of Divine Mercy, so it is only right that I say something about that. This Sunday has been known as Divine Mercy Sunday since the year 2000; the reason for its new designation is to express the central truths that lie at the heart of the Gospel and Easter message, the merciful love of God, manifest especially in the Passion and resurrection of His Son.”
In a slant to modern technology Dom Joseph quoted from an admirer of
Fr Justin when he quoted from a tribute left on the monastery website “We give thanks to God for the gift of Fr Justin’s life and for his faithful perseverance in the monastic vocation over so many years. His steadfast dedication to prayer and community life stands as a beautiful example for all the monks and nuns of our Order. On this joyful day, we assure him of our gratitude, our affection, and our prayers, asking the Lord to continue to bless him with peace and strength.”
Mount St. Bernard monastery was founded 191 years ago by monks from the two Melleray Monasteries from Ireland and France. For many years a dairy farm, but with declining numbers and aging monks have diverted to a highly successful brewery of fine ales; this is the trajectory of many Cistercian Abbey's worldwide with profits circulated to global catholic social teaching, open to the public for guided tours . I really enjoy my visits to this local historic oasis when in the area or driving back from London.
Gerry Molumby
From: Elston Hermitage…….....
This month forty days after Easter we will be celebrating Ascension Day. During the days after Easter Jesus made what we call Post Resurrection appearances. He showed himself in several different ways, sometimes in his Resurrected body at other times as a gardener or wayfarer. All of this was done to help the apostles and disciples come to realise that even though they witnessed his horrible death, he had been raised from the dead and truly lived. The apostles and disciples were led with the theological virtue of faithknowing that with God all things are possible.
Soon He would see them again, this time at the Father’s right hand. He promised that he would not abandon them, but that he would send them the Advocate - the Holy Spirit.
When we think of the Ascension of Jesus, we may think about how marvelous it must have been to see Jesus whisked away into the sky, aided by angels and looked upon with awe by the apostles. We focus on his act of Ascending. But what is even more important is
everything that happened after Jesus had Ascended.
Firstly the Ascended Lord took up his throne as King over all creation. St Paul tells us that Jesus is “far above every principality, authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age, but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1: 21 ) Everything must submit to his gospel of mercy and redemption. Jesus “has passed through the heavens” as a “high priest” who has been “tested in every way, yet without sin” ( Hebrews 4:1516) This means that we can now “ approach the throne of grace” for all our needs - we do not have to be afraid of him.
By Ascending Jesus opened the door for the Holy Spirit. Just before he left he promised that “You will be baptised with the Holy Spirit‘’ (Acts 1: 5) He promised that the love of God would be poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit had the effect of infusing the souls of the apostles, taking away their fear and transforming them into stronger, holier and more peaceful people, sending them to preach and teach with fidelity and constancy.
We too must remember that this call the first apostles and disciples had we too share in to “Go and make disciples of all men”, it is our mission too.
Jesus’ Ascension should then create in us a longing for him to come back. At the Ascension, the angel promised, “This Jesus who has been taken up from into Heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into Heaven” (Acts 1: 11) It assures us that a time will come when sin, pain and suffering will be no more. It promises that Jesus will keep watch over us until that great day.
Life in our times presents us with many and great challenges, many fears and often many questions. We often live lives which are difficult and stressful. However Easter and Ascensiontide remind us that the Lord has not abandoned us! But he is with us until the end.
So Rejoice. Let us lift up our hearts and let us lift up our eyes to Jesus, now enthroned in the Heavens. In this sacred and grace filled time the Lord is asking us to place all our hope and faith in his promises. “Come Lord Jesus fill us with your Spirit”
By Fr David + h.d.n. Priest
School’s 60th anniversary celebrations
An ex-pupil who has worked at Holy Rosary Catholic Voluntary Academy for over 30 years is looking forward to taking part in the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
The primary school, in Burton, will be marking the historic occasion with a tea party for parents, staff and pupils on July 2nd, followed by Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Nottingham.
Guests will include current and ex-pupils and staff and members of the local clergy and community.
One current staff member who will be at the celebrations is Annette Batchelor, who attended the school as a pupil and has worked there as a Teaching Assistant for 31 years.
She said she had happy memories of the school as a pupil and loves her role there now.
“I have lovely memories of the fishpond that used to be at the school and sitting around it with my friends, eating our sandwiches. The equipment we had back then was very different. We had chalkboards, little packets of wax crayons with paper and pencils. All the toys we had were wooden or metal. We had a walk in fold away playhouse and a wooden chest on wheels, containing wooden building blocks. The building blocks were so well made that they were still in use in the year 2000!
“The dinners were very much meat and veg and I remember the chocolate pudding with green custard, which was mint flavoured. I also remember the cornflake cake. I have happy memories of attending the school. I went on to Blessed Robert Sutton and when I got married, I actually had my wedding reception there.”
Mrs Batchelor worked for BT before being employed by Holy Rosary, in Alexandra Road, Winshill, in 1996.
She said: “I had a phone call from the school asking me if I’d be interested in a job, after I’d asked them to let me know if anything came up. They rang me and asked me when I could start and I said tomorrow and I never looked back. I was put with a class of 39 children which included a set of triplets and a set of twins. My children were here in Year 1 and 2 at the time. I loved it because it was a place that I could really be myself. It hasn’t changed in terms of it still being very much like a family and having a real community feel to it.”
Also hoping to attend the anniversary celebrations is Chris Varney, the widow of Frank Varney, the first Headteacher at Holy Rosary. Mr Varney was appointed in March 1966, seven months after the school opened in September 1965. The school’s official opening was held in 1966.
Mr Varney was Headteacher at the school for 18 years.
Mrs Varney said: “At the time he was 37 and was the youngest Headteacher to be appointed at a school in Burton. He enjoyed his job.”
Marie Dyche is the current Headteacher at Holy Rosary and said everyone was looking forward to marking this momentous occasion.
She said: “Holy Rosary holds a special place in the heart of many in our community. As the school commemorates this 60th anniversary, we celebrate and
thank the staff, families and pupils who have been a part of its journey both past and present. We look forward in hope to the next chapter for the school and all those it serves.”
The school is hoping to revamp some outside areas as part of the anniversary celebrations and is looking for donations of oil-based paint to re-coat benches, fence paint, gravel stone, seeds, plants, herbs, planters and large stones. If you can help please contact the school on 01283 562686 or office@hrb.srscmat.co.uk
Annette Batchelor with pupils of Holy Rosay Catholic School
Annette as a pupil at the school
Scripture Focus
By Fr Jeremy Corley
Clothed with Power from on High
We live in an age of space travel. Astronauts can be launched into space and even spend several months on the International Space Station. Billionaires can book a ticket for a flight into space for a few minutes. Unmanned space probes are exploring ever further across the solar system. There are dreams of sending a manned spacecraft to land on Mars.
Humans have always been fascinated by space – the vast expanse above us in the skies, with the moon and stars. Although modern scientists have sent probes to explore the planets and galaxies nearest to earth, there are distant constellations and supernovas that are far beyond human exploration at the moment.
For the ancient pagans, the heavens were the abode of the gods. For the Jews of biblical times, heaven was the dwelling place of God. But we do not have to understand this in a geographical sense. God is vast and limitless, like space. God is above us and around us, like space. God is almighty and beyond our control, like the forces from space.
Near the end of May we celebrate Ascension Thursday (29th May), when Jesus bids farewell to his disciples. The Acts of the Apostles portrays Jesus ascending into heaven, until the cloud of God’s presence hides him from their sight. But we do not need to understand it geographically as a case of space travel –how many miles did Jesus go upwards from the earth? Instead, this is the final appearance of Jesus after his resurrection.
As he bids them farewell in Luke’s gospel account, he blesses them and tells them to wait prayerfully for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
He makes them a wonderful promise in the gospel: in a short while they will be clothed with power from on high. What they would be unable to do by human power, the Holy Spirit would enable them to do. They would be given the power to live like Jesus and spread his love and forgiveness to those around them. They would receive the strength to endure in times of opposition and hardship. And sometimes they would be given the power to heal the sick.
The first apostles would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and then close by in Judea and Samaria. Thereafter his followers would spread the Christian message across the
Mediterranean – and the Acts of the Apostles tells us of the apostle Paul arriving to preach in Rome. In later times, right up till today, the good news of Jesus would be proclaimed all over the world.
We cannot live as Christians without the power of the Holy Spirit, first given to each of us in baptism and confirmation. As we look forward to Pentecost, we pray that the Holy Spirit may continue to inspire us to follow Jesus. May the Holy Spirit help us to live by Christ’s teaching and bear witness to him by our actions towards family and work colleagues and in our community.
Come O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love!
Pope in Cameroon: The peace of Christ calms life's storms
Around 200,000 people gathered for Mass with Pope Leo at Yaoundé-Ville Airport, today. Many had camped out the night before, and hundreds of thousands of others followed it in areas surrounding the venue. The festive celebration marked the culmination of the Pope's four day visit to Cameroon before heading to Angola, the next destination in his pastoral journey to Africa.
The Holy Father expressed his profound gratitude for the welcome he recieved and the moments of joy and faith experienced together.
In his homily given in French, the Pope reflected on the Gospel reading recounting on how Jesus' disciples navigated the strong winds while crossing the lake of Tiberias with feelings of fear and doubt. The Pope recalled how the Church down through the ages has "navigated many storms and 'strong winds'", just as we must in our own lives. At times, life's tribulations can make us feel overcome by adverse forces, he acknowledged. Yet, we must always remember, he said, that "Jesus is with us always, stronger than any power of evil" and "Jesus does not abandon us, just like he did not abandon the disciples on the Sea of Galilee."
The Pope said knowing Jesus never abandons us allows us to get up after every fall and not allow the storms of life to stop us. "We go forward always with courage and trust." While "faith does not spare us from tumult and tribulations", we can be assured that Jesus is with us. "He does not immediately calm the storm, but comes to us in the midst of the danger, and invites us, in our joys and sorrows, to remain together with him, like the disciples, in the same boat."
As Jesus is with us, we must also be close to those who are afraid and suffering, the Pope said, saying we must "draw near to them" and "embrace them" since "no one must be left alone to confront life's adversities." This is why every community needs to create and support one another with mutual aid, especially "when faced with crises -- be they social, political, medical or economic -- everyone can give and receive assistance according to their own capacity and needs."
Jesus' exhortation "do not be afraid" is spoken to each one of us individually and as a community, the Pope explained, and it gives us encouragement to confront
problems and challenges, especially related to poverty and justice, all together with a sense of common responsibility.
"Faith does not separate the spiritual from the social. Indeed, it gives Christians the strength to interact with the world, responding to the needs of others, especially the weakest. The isolated efforts of individuals are not enough for the salvation of a community: instead, what is needed is a communal commitment, which integrates the spiritual and moral dimensions of the Gospel in the heart of local institutions and structures, making them instruments for the common good, and not places of conflict, self-interest or sterile struggles."
The Pope recalled how the first disciples faced the challenges of sharing the faith and living in community, overwhelmed with the immense challenges that emerged. But they gathered together, discussed the issues, and then united in prayer to discern how best to share the Good News and be attentive to those suffering among them, assisting widows and orphans.
"Listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and being attentive to the cry of the suffering, they not only avoided division within the community, but they also equipped it with new instruments suitable to its growth, transforming a moment of crisis into an occasion of enrichment and development for everyone."
In conclusion, Pope Leo bade farewell to the congregation, recalling how everyone will return to their daily lives and "the Church continues on its course towards the final goal, thanks to the grace of God and the commitment of every person." He encouraged everyone to treasure and remember "the beautiful moments that we have experienced together alive in our hearts," and as we face life's difficulties to always "make space for Jesus, allowing him to enlighten and renew us every day by his presence."
"The Church in Cameroon is alive, young, blessed with gifts and enthusiasm, energetic in its variety and magnificent in its harmony. With the help of the Virgin Mary, our Mother, may your joyful presence continue to blossom. And may the strong winds, which are never lacking in life, be an occasion for growth in the joyful service of God and your brothers and sisters through
sharing, listening, praying and the desire to grow together."
After a farewell ceremony at the Cameroonian airport, Pope Leo walked with
Cameroon's Prime Minister, Joseph Dion along a long red carpet to the foot of the aircraft waiting to take him on the next leg of his Apostolic Journey - to Angola.
Youthful determination to support the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage and sick pilgrims
Abel George is a Silver Medallist in the Guild of St. Stephen for Altar Servers at the Good Shepherd Church; part of the Parish of St. John Paul II, Nottingham. A worthy recipient of this accolade for his encouragement and example of our younger Sanctuary Ministrants. Last year, supported by the parish’s St. John Paul II Foundation for Youth; originally formed five years ago to give bursaries to support our youth in fulfilling their desire to journey with the Bishop and share the Lourdes Diocesan Pilgrimage, or travel to World Youth Day with the Holy Father, Abel travelled to be a support to the sick and infirm. As a member of the Sixth Form of Christ the King Senior Academy Abel recently raised as much funding as possible by a 54 km run. His journey from the Good Shepherd Church around Nottinghamshire is illustrated in the photograph.
He writes: “Taking on a 54km challenge pushed me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. The first half felt manageable, but by around 35km, my body was shattered and every step became a real struggle.
In that moment, it would have been easy to quit. But I kept going. Not because it was easy, but because it mattered. The challenge became about perseverance, faith, and pushing through pain with purpose.
Completing the 54km was more than just a physical achievement; it was a test of resilience and determination. The support and donations I received gave me the strength to keep moving, even at my lowest point, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible.
I cannot wait to serve in Lourdes and once again, thank you very much”.
On March 28th the Secular Carmelite communities for the Midlands came together for their regional meeting with Fr Matt OCD and Annette Goulden OCDS, National President. The meeting was held in St Mary’s church hall Derby with Mass held by Fr Matt where two members were able to pronounce their promises to the Order in the Prescence of Fr Matt and their community.
On this occasion the Nottingham secular Carmelite group were celebrating their 25th year of being canonically established.
So with lots to celebrate there had to be cake. The Nottingham community were very pleased to receive blessings and congratulations from Bishop Patrick McKinney acknowledging their Prescence in Nottinghamshire for 25 years.
We would like to thanks St Mary’s Church Derby and the Derby community especially Jo Gilbert OCDS their president and Martin Auger OCDS, our regional representative for the hard work they put into making it a really happy day.”
The Nottingham community with Annette Goulden (far left)
The Nottingham community with Fr Matt (Centre)
Transformed into an inspiring outdoor learning space
A woodland area at St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Marple Bridge has been transformed into an inspiring outdoor learning space to help children connect with nature.
The ‘Dingley Dell’ has been officially opened at the school, thanks to the generous support and fundraising efforts of the school’s PTA.
The woodland has been developed to enrich the educational experience of every child at the school, with the addition of a new gateway providing direct access from the school field.
There are also newly created steps leading into the woodland, encouraging children to explore the area.
Sarah Bradbury, the school’s EYFS and wellbeing lead, said that St Mary’s believes in a holistic education that nurtures the whole child.
She said: “The development of the Dingley Dell reflects our core values of exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning within our natural environment.
“Through regular access to the Dingley Dell, children will build practical skills, deepen their understanding of the world around them, and develop a lifelong connection with nature.
“From Nursery through to Year 6, all pupils will now benefit from this dedicated woodland provision. Whether it is storytelling under the trees, scientific investigation, creative arts, or reflective quiet moments in nature, the Dingley Dell will serve as a vibrant extension of our classrooms.”
Pupil Amelie said: “I am going to love playing in the Dingley Dell, the steps are exciting.”
Pupil Rose said: “It will be an amazing adventure and exciting experience to learn about the wilderness.”
Mrs Bradbury thanked the PTA , landscape contractor Joe Williams, and the wider school community for their commitment and generosity in bringing this vision to life.
She said: “Together, we have created a space where imaginations will flourish,
curiosity will grow, and memories will be made for years to come.”
Headteacher John Nish said: “We are incredibly proud to see Dingley Dell come to life and the opportunities it will provide for our children. My sincere thanks go to our PTA for their generosity and tireless fundraising; this is a wonderful example of
what can be achieved through teamwork across our school family.
“Outdoor learning is a vital part of our curriculum, helping children to develop resilience, creativity and a deeper connection with the natural world. The Dingley Dell is a special place where our pupils can be nurtured, explore, learn and flourish together.”
Good Friday Walk of Witness, 2026
Back in January, a small group – led by Canon Malachy (Nottingham Cathedral) and Rev. Dr James Saunders (St Mary’s in the Lace Market) – met for the first time with the aim of organising a Good Friday Walk of Witness through Nottingham City Centre. This was to be the first such event in over 15 years, and we hoped to encourage members of those two congregations, along with possibly other church groups in Nottingham, to take part and share the message of Good Friday.
It was quickly decided that this would be an Ecumenical event, sharing the experience with Christians from as many church backgrounds as possible. Plans moved apace, and I was tasked with organising a Licence for the event through Nottingham City Council – a more complicated process that I originally thought, but happily one which was resolved thanks to the helpful team at the Council.
The walk was to start at Nottingham Cathedral, moving down through the Market Square and on to St Mary’s. We hoped for 100-200 people, which provided logistical questions and problems – it was clear that we would need a number of Stewards to guide people and keep them safe whilst crossing roads, First Aid provision, a designated and tested route, risk assessments and clear Health & Safety procedures. Canon Malachy and Fr James put together the liturgy to be used at the three stops, as well as inviting ecumenical and special guests, and the event started to come together.
Thanks to the publicity of many different church groups, over 400 people attended the walk – a wonderful number, bringing together Christians of many backgrounds in a single act of faith.
Among that number were a group of faith and civic leaders, including (from left to right):
The Rt Rev. Andy Emerton (Bishop of Sherwood); Rev. Richard Byass (Superintendent Minister, Methodist Church); Rev. Geoffrey Clarke (East Midlands Synod Moderator, URC); Rev. Ezekiel Alawale (Senior Pastor, God’s Vineyard Ministries); Mjr Robert Jepson (Corps Leader, Nottingham Salvation Army); Prof. Veronica Pickering (LordLieutenant of Nottinghamshire); The Rt Rev. Patrick McKinney (Bishop of Nottingham); Bishop Paulina HławiczkaTrotman (head of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain); Rev. Steve Silvester (Rector of St Nic’s, Nottingham).
It was a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful event, and it was truly rewarding to receive so many positive comments about the walk. We have learnt a lot, and next year’s event is already in the pipeline, hopefully incorporating even more members of local churches and faith groups. Thank you to all those involved in the planning and to those who worked so hard on the day to keep people safe –working together was a very special experience!
Cheryl Broodryk
CRYPTIC Across
7 Dead set, if else fails, to make 18 when in Rome (6,7)
8 I am the Spanish waiter in Messiah! (8)
9 Mountain in Joshua can be seen in section of Horeb, altitudinally (4)
10 Friend from Troy, one leaving an ecclesiastic band (7)
12 Drama queen's back to support the lead in Dallas –the Dynasty chap? (5)
14 Youngster gets sophisticated in front of the king... (5)
16 ...one in Judah has Henry bound by kinky Joe to tree (7)
19 It's the first name in jeans for Matthew! (4)
20 Early Christian sect which barely made it out of 21? (8)
22 To which place did Jesus ride a girl's horse? (5,2,6)
CRYPTIC Down
1 Esau's people's place, where style's in ascendant (4)
2 First of Issachar's successors really annexed extra land here (6)
3 Exist, being raised in African surroundings, to name brother of 2 (7)
4 Passage from article is on the Spanish uprising (5)
5 Missionary's desirable little home in Darjeeling? (6)
6 Drugs prisoner detained by the Pope is ascetic (8)
11 Get trees from 11 or 16 by the thousand, to rebuild lone Philistine city... (8)
13 ...and cedars from here to build Jerusalem, the French and British find later (7)
15 Queensland site's stop-start finish confused CIA and the Navy (6)
17 God's pupil is confronted by a very large introduction (6)
18 Is she, looking up, last one raising any cash at Christmas? (5)
21 First family's home study is situated below, note (4)
QUICK Across
7 Latin hymn translated into a popular carol by a canon of Westminster Cathedral (6,7)
8 Christ or the Messiah, as named from a reference in Isaiah (8)
9 Where Moses commanded Joshua to build an altar (4)
10 White vestment like a double-Y embroidered with crosses, worn by the Pope (7)
12 Dynast and hymnodist from humble origins, integral to both Testaments (5)
14 Young bird, especially of domestic fowl (5)
16 Kings of Israel and Judah sharing the same name (7)
19 Son of Jacob cursed by his father for attacking Shechem (4)
20 Early Christians who aimed to return to man's primitive innocence (8)
22 Hill overlooking Jerusalem where Solomon built an altar (5,2,6)
QUICK Down
1 Mountainous region south of the Dead Sea in OT times, also called Seir (4)
2 Name God gave to Jacob... (6)
3 ...and one of Jacob's twelve sons (7)
4 Extension of the nave in a church (5)
missionary dedicated to helping the poor in India (1910-1997) (6)
6 Ascetic 5th century British theologian (8)
11 One of the five Philistine cities (8)
13 Area north of biblical Israel famous for its cedar trees (7)
15 Queensland resort city facing the Great Barrier Reef (6)
17 Greatest of all the gods of ancient Egypt (6)
18 Joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ (5)
21 Land west of Nod (4)
Across: 7 Adeste fideles, 8 Immanuel, 9 Ebal, 10 Pallium,
12 David, 14 Chick, 16 Jehoash, 19 Levi, 20 Adamites,
22 Mount of Olives Down: 1 Edom, 2 Israel, 3 Zebulun, 4 Aisle,
5 Teresa, 6 Pelagius, 11 Ashkelon, 13 Lebanon, 15 Cairns,
17 Osiris, 18 Carol, 21 Eden.
You can use both sets of clues to solve the puzzle: the solutions are the same.